Civilization has made man, if not always more bloodthirsty, at least more viciously, more horribly bloodthirsty.

The degree of a nation’s civilization can be seen in the way it treats its prisoners

People talk sometimes of a bestial cruelty, but that's a great injustice and insult to the beasts; a beast can never be so cruel as a man, so artistically cruel. The tiger only tears and gnaws, that's all he can do. He would never think of nailing people by the ears, even if he were able to do it.

Until you have become really, in actual fact, as brother to everyone, brotherhood will not come to pass.

What if man is not really a scoundrel, man in general, I mean, the whole race of mankind-then all the rest is prejudice, simply artificial terrors and there are no barriers and it's all as it should be.

I will not and cannot believe that evil is the normal condition of mankind.

Of course my jokes are in poor taste, inappropriate, and confused; they reveal my lack of security. But that is because I have no respect for myself.